PRATS + SYMINGTON, CHRYSEIA

DOURO, PORTUGAL 2015

For almost 30 years, Bruno Prats famously guided one of the true benchmarks of Bordeaux, Cos d'Estournel. Beginning with his grandfather, who cemented his family’s place in history with the purchase of the iconic Saint-Estephe estate, Prats would go on to study viticulture in Montpellier and upon graduating, worked alongside his grandfather at Chateau Margaux as well as the family-owned property. In 1998, he departed to pursue a new venture in one of the wine world’s most exciting emerging regions for red wine, the Douro Valley. Setting out to produce a red wine akin to the quality of a top Bordeaux, Prats partnered with the port powerhouse Symington family (of Graham’s port fame). Although the top grapes of the valley were usually destined for the production of fortified wines, this all changed after Prats acquired both Quinta de Roriz and Quinta da Perdiz on the left bank of the Douro River. With extremely steep, terraced slopes lying 1,458 feet high in elevation, Prats believed that by emphasizing the art of blending just as in Bordeaux, he could produce a world-class, age-worthy dry red. And that is exactly what he did.

Prat’s vision helped catapult the region into the upper echelon of red wine production, especially after his flagship wine, Chryseia, was named #3 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 in 2014 for the 2011 vintage. Using regional varieties such as Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca in a way similar to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Prats consistently “modulates the power of the Douro’s fruit with a Bordelaise finesse” (Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator). As many are still learning that the Douro has much more to offer than port, Chryseia remains one of the wine worlds best kept secrets for collectible, age-worthy wine at an unbelievable price. With massive scores year after year, today’s offer of the 2015 vintage, a 96-point knockout, is rich and brooding yet velvety in texture. Surprisingly approachable now, this will age beautifully over the next decade or two. With up to 15% off by the bottle and only 30 six-packs available, don't miss your chance to secure this wine before it's gone!